Bat Removal in the Macon Area

Common Bats in Georgia

Bat removed from a home in Stone Mountain.

Bats are one of the most misunderstood of all animals commonly encountered in our Macon regional service area, and bat-removal is one of our most popular services, especially in the summer, when they're most active.

One of the biggest misunderstanding about bats is that a lot of folks believe that they're rodents -- winged mice, as it were. That's completely untrue. Bats aren't even close relatives of rodents.

Bats are mammals that belong to the taxonomic order Chiroptera, which literally means "winged hand." That's a pretty good description, too. A bat's wing is actually a very large hand in comparison to their bodies, with webbing stretched between the fingers that forms a wing and enables them to take off and fly.

Bat removal job at a commercial building in Warner Robins

Another common misconception about bats is that they're blind. That's completely untrue. Different species of bats have different visual acuity ranging from so-so to quite good, but no bats are completely blind.

Because they fly at night, however, including during new moons when it's very dark outside, they also use echolocation -- basically sonar -- to help them navigate, avoid obstacles, and find prey. In this regard, they're especially amazing animals. Their sonic abilities were studied at great length by the U.S. government when sonar for ships and subs was being invented.

Speaking of prey, our Georgia bats mainly eat insects, which we'll talk some more about a bit farther down the page. We have no vampire bats in Georgia.

The Problem with Bats

Bat bugs are closely related to bed bugs

A lot of people are afraid of bats, and to be sure, bats can be dangerous when they get into our homes. Not that the bats are likely to attack you or anything like that. Their main desire with regard to us human folks is to stay away from us. But they cause problems in other ways.

The main problem with bats is that they're not the cleanest of critters, and their guano (poop) creates an unhealthful condition when it piles up -- quite literally -- in attics and other places where bats roost. We've removed literally tons of guano from some serious rat jobs.

The problem with the guano (other than the obvious one, which is that it's, well, poop) is that it harbors a variety of bacterial, fungal, and possibly viral pathogens that can cause disease. These germs can get airborne and circulate into the inside of your home where the human folks live, especially if you have heating or air-conditioning equipment in the attic.

Rabies is another serious health problem associated with bats. Although the chances of exposure are small, it could happen if a member of your family (including a family pet) went into the attic and startled the bats. Once symptoms begin to show, it's too late to treat for rabies. The patient will die, and it will be a painful death. So even a small chance of exposure is too big a chance to take. If you have bats in your home, they have to go.

Finally, bats carry parasites that can be displaced and some of which can become human pests. One of these insects is the bat bug, a parasitic insect that's so similar to bed bugs that even entomologists have a hard time telling them apart. If they get into your home's living area they can make your life pretty miserable.

In Defense of Bats

Bats screened out of an Attic at a Georgia bat removal job

All that being said, although we can't tolerate them in our homes, bats are very beneficial members of our natural ecosystem. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that a single bat can consume between 600 and 1000 insects on every one of its night flights. That's a lot fewer 'skeeters for us to content with; and considering that mosquitoes transmit far more diseases than bats do, in balance, bats do more good than harm for public health.

In fact, bats are protected under both Federal and Georgia state law. With very few exception, it's a crime to deliberately kill bats. That's also why there's no such thing as a "bat exterminator."

Bats are controlled through removal and exclusion, or what a lot of people refer to as "bat-proofing." We wait until the leave the home on their nightly flights, and then we seal them out. That may sound easy, but it's really not. It's highly-specialized work.

You see, bats are really very tiny animals. With their wings folded, they can get into a home through some really small holes. Sealing them out of a house requires a great deal of training and skill to find and seal all the possible openings and a specialized knowledge of bat biology and behavior. It's very detailed, specialized work. Bat exclusion work done by handymen and homeowners almost always fails.

In addition, bat exclusion is hazardous because of the need to work up high and the potential exposure to bat-borne pathogens and parasites. It's definitely not the kind of job for folks who are afraid of heights, nor for the squeamish. It also requires equipment to get up to where the bats are, which can range from ordinary ladders to bucket trucks and man lifts -- not the sort of thing most handymen have at their disposal.

Inspection to determine the severity of the infestation and how the bats are getting into the home.

Assessment of the extent of damage or contamination caused by the bats.

Humane removal of the bats, including the installation of one-way doors when needed.

Exlusion ("bat-proofing") to make sure that the bats can't get back into your home.

Repair of any bat-related damage.

Cleanup and decontamination.

Optionally, replacement of contaminated insulation to help keep your home clean, healthy, and fresh smelling.

Please note that guano removal and insulation replacement, if needed, are quoted separately from bat removal and exclusion.

We also take care of any permits, if needed, and can provide documentation of the work we did for insurance puposes. We also offer easy financing for qualified customers. Just ask your Rid-A-Critter representative or contact us for more details.

Bat Control Gallery

Here are a few pictures of some of the bat control and bat-proofing jobs we've done in the Macon, Georgia regional service area.

Engorged bat bug feeding on a bat

Bat guano in a loft

Bats can't get back in after bat-proofing job

Construction gap in a Macon home allowed bats in

Bat removal from a church in Thomaston Georgia

Bat guano in an attic in Zebulon

How bats got into a house in Macon

Evidence of bats at a house in Valdosta

Bat coming out of a Barnesville house

Droppings and rub marks are signs of a bat problem

Winter bat removal job in Woodbury

Bats in a shed in Macon

Bat and guano in an attic in Zebulon

Valdosta bat-removal crew

Bats sealed out of a house in Cordele

Homeless bats after being sealed out of a house

Bat stains on a gable vent in Valdosta

Bat guano in the insulation of a Macon home

Bat guano cleanup in a loft

Bat hanging on a house in Warner-Robins

Bat-proofing a home in Macon, Georgia

Evidence of bats in an attic in Macon

Bat-proofing a mausoleum in Macon, GA

Bat guano in the attic of a house in Macon

Bat guano in the attic of a house in Barnesville

How bats got into a house in Macon

A dead bat found in an attic on a bat-removal job

Bat-proofing a house in Warm Springs

Bat removal from a big building

Bat guano on a tin roof in Americus

Bat hiding in a stone chimney in Thomaston

What a bat bug looks like

Please contact us for more informations about bat removal in and around Macon, Georgia. We look forward to hearing from you.

Had a good day visiting some of my clients in the Gainesville Ga. area today.

by Jason ArrudaJan 17, 2019 02:38:57 pm.

Squirrels, squirrels, and rats. Just left a house in Vestavia Hills. We are sealing that one today for squirrels and rats. On my way to pehlam for gray squirrels. Then back up to Birmingham for more gray squirrels. Then to Irondale.

It’s was a great day in Birmingham Alabama today. I got to see a lot of friendly faces again. Our relationship with the pest control industry has been and is amazing. Thanks to all the Pest Control companies that refer us for wildlife.

by Jason ArrudaJan 10, 2019 03:08:08 pm.

The warm weather we recently had got the bat stirred up. Bats are great animals but messy in a house. If you have a bat problem call the bat experts - Ridacritter. We will give you a free estimate for bat removal, prevention and cleanup

by Richard AdcockJan 10, 2019 09:23:48 am.

Good morning team. I’m headed to Albany Ga. today to see some clients. Hope you all have a great day.

by Jason ArrudaJan 09, 2019 08:05:26 am.

Its finally a beautiful day in the south! The sun is shining and the temperatures are nice. Our techs are out in the filed removing attic critters and excluding them from homes. If you have rats, mice or other varmints in your home call us.